North Carolina elections board investigates misunderstanding by voters on RFK Jr. and Cornel West petitions

In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections has postponed a decision regarding the inclusion of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West on the state's ballot. This delay comes after it was discovered that some voters who signed petitions to support these independent presidential candidates were not fully informed of the purpose of the petitions. The pro-Biden super PAC Clear Choice objected to Kennedy and West's ballot access, alleging that the candidates misled voters by not disclosing the general purpose and intent of their parties as required by state law. During a recent hearing, board staff revealed that they had contacted voters who signed the petitions and found that some were unaware of the purpose behind them. The board's decision was met with partisan tensions, with criticism from the Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee for delaying the ruling. A conservative-aligned group, Fair Election Fund, launched an ad campaign targeting Democratic board members for allegedly obstructing competition for Biden. The Fair Election Fund's media blitz accused three Democratic board members of colluding to block Kennedy and West from the ballot, despite both candidates meeting the signature requirements. The ad highlighted various actions taken by the board members to prevent competition for Biden and shield him from electoral challenges. Democrats have been portrayed as trying to eliminate competition for Biden in key swing states, with accusations of disenfranchising voters who support alternative candidates. The Kennedy campaign has made progress in gaining ballot access in multiple states, while the Fair Election Fund's campaign in North Carolina aims to challenge the board's decision to block Kennedy and West. The board's handling of the situation has sparked controversy and raised questions about political motivations behind the delay in ruling on the candidates' ballot access.